By Asif Haroon Raja The US sole worry is to ensure safe and smooth withdrawal of US-NATO troops. At the same time it wishes to ensure peaceful transition of power in Afghanistan and to leave behind stable Afghanistan under a US friendly regime. Another aspect which is yet to be decided is the size of residuary force that will be left behind after 2014. Kabul government has yet not given blanket diplomatic i ...

By Zaheerul Hassan and Sajjad Shaukat According to Israeli news agency, on May 7, 2013, Israel’s Ministry of Finance published a new austerity economic plan, with a view to reduce the country’s 11 billion U.S. dollars of budget deficit.  The Israeli cabinet will vote on the new budget, along with the Economic Arrangements Bill, which includes legislative changes as part of the economical policy. But focus o ...

Asif Haroon Raja India’s worst fears with regard to the situation in Afghanistan are in all likelihood coming true. The United States was India’s closest partner in Afghanistan venture and both had jointly worked up regional objectives for mutual benefits. This mutually beneficial partnership remained strong till as late as 2012 during which Indo-US, Indo-Afghan and Afghan-US strategic partnership agreement ...

Asif Haroon Raja Sudden emergence of Tehrik-e-Taliban-Pakistan (TTP) in December 2007 under unknown Baitullah Mehsud (deceased) from nowhere was in reaction to Gen Musharraf’s pro-US policies and its continued vendetta is because of the role of liberal parties pursuing Musharraf’s policies. The banned TTP is exploiting the disillusionment of the youth and frustration of the have-nots and has stepped up its ...

By Major Muhammad Ijaz Khattak On 22 March 13, I have observed a common but very encouraging phenomenon. A plethora of writings are present on motivational subjects, what inspired me to express my heartfelt happiness was a simple, shinning and contented smile on face of two sons of my unit hero, Major Ehsan (shaheed). Aarish and Basil, natty among their age mates, yet secured 90% and above in their 3rd and ...

By Zaheerul Hassan According to South Asia Terrorism Portal, from January IST 2013 to April 21, 1536 individuals have been killed and 1263 sustained injuries as result of terrorism in Pakistan. However, in last eight days, 55 individuals killed and over 120 injured. Elections are being held just after few days on 11 May 2013.  But the visible elections campaign can only be seen in Punjab, whereas dreadfulne ...

By Sajjad Shaukat The Supreme Court of Pakistan, armed forces, political and religious parties including media and civil society remain keen to see democracy flourishing in the country by favouring the elections, going to be held in May 11, 2013. Although election campaign is now on peak, yet it is most regrettable that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has accelerated its terror-activities to sabotage t ...

Asif Haroon Raja Mehrangate scandal which was lingering since 1996 suddenly got reinvigorated in 2012 because of the decision of pro-active Supreme Court (SC) on October 22, 2012. It was indeed distressing to learn that even GHQ and ISI had remained involved in gerrymandering elections to make the political party of choice win the contest. Mehrangate scam in which Rupees 30 million were distributed among ce ...